Brighton Has New Town Clerk

March 7, 2012

By

Ed Barber

ISLAND POND, VT - After 31 years, the Town of Brighton has a new town clerk and treasurer.
Teresa Potwin emerged as the winner in a contested race for these positions.
With 344 votes, Potwin defeated challengers Tracy Acebo (8 votes), Robin Castonguay (66 votes), and Jennifer Hanlon (34 votes) for the position of town clerk. Potwin also received 321 votes for town treasurer, besting Acebo (8 votes), Castonguay (80 votes) and Hanlon (34 votes).
Potwin made it a clean sweep with her election as school treasurer (294 votes) over Acebo (9 votes), Castonguay (106 votes) and Hanlon (33 votes). The three offices are for three-year terms each.
In the select board race, incumbent Gerald Groupie (146 votes) was defeated by challenger Michael Worth (297 votes) for a three-year term.
With the retirement of Water Commissioner Maurice Barnes, three candidates ran for the position. Terry Blake garnered 210 votes to Joe Arborio's 65 and Raymond Fontain's 147; Blake was elected the towns new water commissioner.
There were no other contested elections and incumbents were returned for anther term in office.
By vote from the floor, residents approved the town budget, road department budget, and police department budget without changes. At the elementary school meeting, voters also approved spending $1,764,104 this next fiscal year by a vote from the floor.
The North Country Union High School budget was approved with 261 casting ballots in favor and 180 opposed. The combined high school and career center budgets are $15,106,500.
The NEK Waste Management District budget was approved with 257 voting yes and 167 voting no.
Brighton residents also voted in favor of securing a bond of up to $175,000 for the Dale Avenue Waste Water Station with 309 in favor and 132 against.
The bond can be reduced if the select board is able to secure other funding sources for the necessary upgrades.